This is my personal experience and I do not advise anyone to stop taking their medication without consulting their doctor. I was diagnosed with schizoaffective... which is a form of schizophrenia but with mood disorder. There wasn’t a specific forum for that so I chose schizophrenia. Anyway, I’ve taken several different types of medications. Before I took medications I did not have sleeping disorders, I did not have back pain, my memory was not crappy, and I did not have an iron deficiency. But after taking several different medications since I was 15(I am now 20)... I have those issues that I previously stated. Medications worsen my hallucinations, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. No schizoaffective is not the only illness Im diagnosed with. I got fed up with medication and asked my psychiatrist if I could try ECT(electroconvulsive therapy) and he said no just try this new medication. He gave me latuda. First week on it I had a psychotic breakdown. I said **** it and stopped taking all my medications. I feel much better now. Rarely ever have hallucinations, mood swings are still there thought not as bad, delusions are still there but I use several coping skills and it helps. Do any of you have schizophrenia/schizoaffective and not use medication? How do you cope?